Post by TonyR on Aug 18, 2023 17:36:36 GMT
At times, I think it's important to separate a bands/artists music from the people who made it and also from their fanbases.
I know there's been a few times where I've purposefully chosen to step away from the MJ community. After he died, I just couldn't deal with everyone else's grief and just stepped away. Then the same with Leaving Neverland for a while I just didn't need all the hoopla and bullshit in my life. It wasn't why I became a fan and I just didn't have the time or the energy for it.
But for me, what is sacred is the music. And that goes for Guns too. My God, do I find Axl to be frustrating to follow. I haven't even seen a reunion show - not one. I've been tempted, but I hate stadium gigs for the most part and just can't justify seeing the same show I saw in 2010 and 2012 with worse vocals and a different lead guitarist (even if it is Slash).
The more "new" music they put out, the more I would be tempted to go and see them again, but ultimately the live thing isn't why I became a fan. I became a fan because of the quality of the albums and I think its important not to lose sight of that. I've found myself really, really disliking Axl in the past and then I remind myself he is who he is, he isn't harming anybody and is just trying to live his best life on his own terms.
Of course, I wish GNR would operate like a normal, creative, functioning band ala RHCP, Metallica etc. But they are who they are and the truth is, whilst I like those other bands music, I would take Perhaps, Hard Skool and Absurd over about 95% of their catalogues. I guess I have it bad for GNR.
Regarding the fanbase; there's just a LOT of really, really bad people in those circles. I've seen stuff you wouldn't believe from so called "fellow fans" of that band. It's beyon toxic. It's extremely harmful, in fact. I more or less got to a point where I decided to cut my losses and bounce out of the community. I'd lost interest in the music a LONG time ago, but I was holding on to the community for absolutely no reason.
Like I said before; I keep up with about 5 or 6 people from the entire community, which inludes you. That's pretty much the only people I care to keep up on between the whole fan community and the band itself.
Out of interest Russ, does this mean you don't listen to the classic stuff anymore?
